Israel braces for an election each side warns could bring ruin
Summary
Israelis are voting in an election centered on Benjamin Netanyahu’s leadership, the October 7 security failures and the country’s direction after three years of war. Netanyahu campaigned on the threat from Iran, while opponents promised accountability and political changes; the article says the opposition entered the vote with stronger organization and voter motivation, though its parties faced late infighting.Key Facts
- The election is the first opportunity for voters to judge Netanyahu over the security failures before the Hamas-led October 7 attacks and his record during the subsequent war.
- Netanyahu made Iran a central campaign issue and warned that Iran was moving closer to building a nuclear weapon.
- Israeli officials said Netanyahu sought President Donald Trump’s approval for a strike on Iran before the election, but Trump did not agree.
- The officials said IDF chief of staff General Eyal Zamir refused to prepare for a potential strike, warning it could trigger escalation and disrupt the election.
- Netanyahu opponent Gadi Eisenkot called for accountability over October 7, a national commission of inquiry and drafting ultra-Orthodox men into the military.
- Netanyahu’s opponents criticized claims that some of his advisers and his campaign manager received money from Qatar; Netanyahu said he did not know his advisers were paid.
- The article described Netanyahu’s bloc as divided and unpopular, while the opposition had stronger organization and turnout efforts.
- The article said more than 50,000 Israelis who had left the country returned to vote, and that Arab turnout was expected to be unusually high.
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